Shoppers swarm small businesses

ALTON — The big retail outlets may win Black Friday, the Internet consistantly wins Cyber Monday, but Small Business Saturday is made for local brick-and-mortar businesses.

Small Business Saturday was first observed four years ago on Nov. 27, 2010 and was conceived and promoted by American Express, who also owns the trademark on the term. It was conceived to promote small local businesses, of which Alton has plenty.

“It’s awesome,” Gift Box owner Andrea Abbott told the Telegraph. “This is the best day of the entire year for us.”

Abbott said that there was a line of customers waiting to go into the store Saturday morning. By noon, she said, there had already been as many as 100 people come and go in the store.

“The whole store is 10 percent off or more all weekend, starting on Black Friday,” Abbott said.

The Gift Box hosts more than 100 local vendors. Abbott told the Telegraph that 21 of them have been at the Gift Box since it opened four years ago.

“We started with the concept of having the store full of vendors to help more than one person obtain extra income,” she said.

Abbott added that all the vendors at her store are locally-owned and many of the items sold are locally-crafted as well.

The Gift Box is located at 300 E. Broadway in Alton.

The Olive Oil Marketplace located at 108 W 3rd St. in Alton also described the Saturday after Thanksgiving as their busiest time of year. Owner Tim Meeks told the Telegraph that he could not count how many people had been to their store, but said it was a significant amount.

“We have a lot of regulars and new faces as well,” he said.

Meeks described the Olive Oil Marketplace as a family-owned business that offers a plethora of treats for the gourmet spirit.

“We have 60 different flavors of olive oil and vinegars,” he said. “We also have coffees, teas, pastas, dips, hot sauces and a variety of kitchen gadgets.”

Meeks said that his business was offering deals to customers throughout the duration of their Saturday hours.